Gaming System and Gaming Method

ABSTRACT

A gaming environment, in which a player may set the betted amount to the card game played by the other players so as to provide a brand new and interesting gaming system and a card gaming method, is described. Especially a gaming environment, in which a player may select the betted amount through the three kinds of betting buttons  75 , and determine his/her betted amount to the game executed in the other terminal at which the player does not seat by touching each tip display area  73 , wherein each tip display area  73  is displayed on each corresponding terminal display area  301 , wherein each terminal display area  301  is displayed on the betting screen  70  which is used to make a bet for the other terminal by the player.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims a priority from the priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2007-009501 filed on Jan. 18, 2007, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a gaming system and a card game playingmethod, in which a game is executed by setting the betted amount to thecard game result.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, card gaming machines or card gaming tables for playingcard games such as Pai Gow Poker or Draw Poker or Blackjack are arrangedin a casino or a game arcade. Here, in above card games, after settingthe betted amount to the game, the game is proceeded by using the cardswith marks (for example, a “A” rank of a “Heart” suit). The game isexecuted between the dealer and the player based on the hand of thecards distributed, and according to the game result, the payout amountis determined. Or, according to the other card gaming method, the gameis not only executed between the dealer and the players, the game isalso executed between the players, and based on the total game result,the payout amount is provided.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, one or more aspects of the present inventionrelate to a gaming machine, a gaming method thereof, a gaming system, acomputer readable medium having computer-executable instructions or thelike that a player may set the betted amount to the card game played bythe other players so as to provide a brand new and interesting gamingsystem and a card gaming method.

One or more of the above aspects of the invention is more fullydescribed in the following detailed description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for purpose of illustration only and notintended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantagesand principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an example showing the feature of thegaming system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an outline view of a gaming system according to theembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an outline view of a terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of thegaming system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of theterminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a betting screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a betting screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a main screen displayed on thefront display according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a game processing program in the gaming systemaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a game processing program in the gaming systemaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a game processing program in the gaming systemaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of a table game inwhich the present invention is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various aspects summarized precedingly may be embodied in variousforms. The following description shows by way of illustration of variouscombinations and configurations in which the aspects may be practiced.It is understood that the described aspects and/or embodiments aremerely examples, and that other aspects and/or embodiments may beutilized and structural and functional modifications may be made,without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It is noted that various connections are set forth between items in thefollowing description. It is noted that these connections in generaland, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that thisspecification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.

A gaming machine according to one or more aspects of the invention isdescribed in detail with reference to the drawings based on anembodiment embodying one or more aspects of the invention as a cardgaming machine, a server, a gaming system. However, it is appreciatedthat one or more aspects of the present invention may be embodied indistributable (via CD and the like) or downloadable software games,console games, and the like. Aspects of the invention are described byway of hardware elements. However, it is appreciated that these elementsmay also be software modules that are executable in a computer. Thesoftware modules may be stored on a computer readable medium, includingbut not limited to a USB drive, CD, DVD, computer-readable memory, tape,diskette, floppy disk, and the like. For instance, aspects of theinvention may be embodied in a JAVA-based application or the like thatruns in a processor or processors. Further, the terms “CPU” and“processor” are inclusive by nature, including at least one of hardware,software, or firmware. These terms may include a portion of a processingunit in a computer (for instance, in multiple core processing units),multiple cores, a functional processor (as running virtually on at leastone of processor or server, which may be local or remote). Further, innetwork-based gaming systems, the processor may include only a localprocessor, only a remote server, or a combination of a local processorand a remote server.

It is contemplated that one or more aspects of the invention may beimplemented as computer executable instructions on a computer readablemedium such as a non-volatile memory, a magnetic or optical disc.Further, one or more aspects of the invention may be implemented with acarrier signal in the form of, for instance, an audio-frequency,radio-frequency, or optical carrier wave.

Hereinafter, concerning with a gaming system according to the presentinvention, the embodiment embodying the present invention is describedin detail with reference to the drawings. Here, the gaming systemaccording to the embodiment, is one type of the multiplayer gamingsystem with plural terminals, wherein the terminals receive inputs fromthe main control unit and players. The game executed is the Pai GowPoker, one kind of the card games. Here, the Pai Gow Poker is a kind ofgame, in which each player bets predetermined tips to the game executedin his/her own terminal respectively, seven cards distributed as theplayer's hand are allocated into two sets of 5 cards (high hand) and 2cards (second hand). High hand and second hand of the player's cards maybe compared with those of dealer's cards, wherein the dealer's cards arethe hand of dealer. If both high hand and second hand of player arehigher than those of dealer, it is determined that the player is thewinner, the award corresponding to the betted amount may be paid out.

Here, in the gaming system according to the present invention, eachplayer may also bet predetermined tips to the game executed in otherterminal. When the player wins the game in other terminal, the payoutcorresponding to the betted amount may newly be provided. In otherwords, a player may bet not only to the game executed in his/her ownterminal, but also may bet for the game executed in other terminal.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an example showing the feature of thegaming system according to the embodiment embodying the presentinvention. In FIG. 1, one of the example of a betting screen 70displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 in the terminal at which aplayer seats. The betting screen 70 is used by a player to bet for theexecuted in other terminal. Here, betting operation to bet predeterminedcredits is executed by the player using the betting screen 70 and thetouch panel 11. On the betting screen 70, each terminal display area 301displaying other terminal respectively is displayed. On the lowerportion of each terminal display area 301, a tip display area 73corresponding to each terminal display area 301 is arranged. The playermay select the betted amount by three kinds of betting buttons 75, andmay determine the betted amount to the game executed in other terminalsthrough touching of the tip display area 73. Here, on the betting screen70, the tip image 72 corresponding to the betted amount betted by theplayer is displayed in the tip display area 73. A tip of ten credits isbetted to the third terminal by the player who seats in front of thefirst terminal is shown in FIG. 1. Also, the detailed explanationregarding to the betting screen 70 in FIG. 1 will be described later.

First, an outline construction of the gaming system 1 according to theembodiment is described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment.

The gaming system 1 according to the embodiment is basically constructedfrom a table deck 2 and a panel portion 3. The table deck 2 is a placewhere players may seat and play a game, and the panel portion 3, whichis arranged behind the table deck 2, displays animation images of avirtual dealer.

Hereinafter, the table deck 2 is described first. The table deck 2 hasseveral (there are 5 in FIG. 2) terminals 4 called satellites which arearranged in a fan-like shape. Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of oneof the terminals 4 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 4 is constructed from a liquid crystaldisplay 10, a touch panel 11, operating buttons 12, a coin insertionslot 13, a bill insertion portion 14, and a coin payout opening 15. Theliquid crystal display 10 is used to display the betting screen(described below, see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) or the game results. The touchpanel 11, is arranged on the front plane of the liquid crystal display10 and is used to select buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display10 when betting subjects are selected and the bet amount is set. Theoperating button 12 is a button to execute operations such as payoutoperation. The coin insertion slot 13 is a slot to insert coins ormedals. The bill insertion portion 14 is an insertion portion forinserting bills. And the coin payout opening 15 is an opening to pay outcoins or medals corresponding to the credits stored when payoutoperation is executed.

Returning to FIG. 2, the panel portion 3 is constructed from a frontdisplay 21, speakers 22, and LEDs (light emitting diode) 23. The frontdisplay 21 is used to display images of a dealer and the content ofcards distributed, wherein a dealer is a person who distributes cards orreceives tips in the card game. The speakers 22, which are arrangedabove the front display 21, may output music and effect sounds accordingto the progress of the game. And LEDs 23 are lightened when variousstages are shown.

A JACKPOT amount display portion 24 is formed at an upper portion of thefront display 21. Here, for the gaming system 1 according to theembodiment, 5% of the betted amount betted by a player is pooled in thePOT. Under a condition that a hand of the player's card is a specifichand (for example, high hand becomes to a Royal Flush hand), the playergets the winning lottery of JACKPOT, therefore the pooled amount is paidout in a lump. And the JACKPOT amount display portion 24 is a portion todisplay the pooled amount in the POT until now.

Here, cards used in the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment,which are same as trump cards generally used, are displayed with the“marks” consist of “suits” and “ranks” (see FIG. 7).

Here, “Suits” are the marks of the trump cards. There are 4 kinds of“suits” including spade, heart, diamond and club.

And “ranks” indicate numbers or English Characters in trump cards. Thereare 13 kinds of numbers or English Characters, which are A (Ace,equivalent to 1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J (Jack, equivalent to11), Q (Queen, equivalent to 12), K (King, equivalent to 13).

And “marks” indicate the types of cards which are determined bycombinations of “suits” and “numbers”, for an instance, “Heart A”,“Spade K”. A total of fifty-three cards is defined as a single carddeck. Fifty-three cards includes a joker and a total of fifty-two cards,wherein fifty-two cards consist of 13 kinds of numbers for each of the 4kinds of suits necessary in a card game.

Next, the playing method of the gaming system 1 according to aboveconstruction will be explained. Players playing a game may seat at theterminal 4. Players may bet a desired betting amount with a bettingscreen displayed on the liquid crystal display 10. The images of cardsdistributed to players and a dealer respectively are displayed on thefront display 21 and each liquid crystal display 10. An operation ofallocating high hand and second hand is executed. A performance image ofa player or a dealer as a winner, or an image for draw between thedealer and player is displayed, based on kinds of card marks allocatedas high hand and second hand. Furthermore, at each terminal 4, under acondition that a player wins the game against the dealer, double creditsof the betted amount is provided as an award. However, when a playerloses the game against the dealer, no award is provided. And when aplayer plays to a draw with the dealer, the betted amount is returned tothe player. And when a player's high hand becomes to Royal Flush (a handincluding the same kinds of suits with “10”, “J”, “Q”, “K”, “A”), theplayer gets the winning lottery of JACKPOT, and the pooled amount pooledin the POT until now is paid out in a lump.

However, the player may bet not only to game executed in his/her ownterminal 4, he/she may also bet for games executed in other terminals.In this case, when the player wins the games executed in other terminals4, credits which equals to two times of the betted amount (credits) isnewly provided to the player as an award.

Next, a construction of a control system in the gaming system 1 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagramschematically showing a control system of the gaming system 1 accordingto the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment isconstructed from a main control unit 31, plural terminals 4 which areconnected to the main control unit 31, and a variety of peripheraldevices.

The main control unit 31 includes a microcomputer 45 as a core. And themicrocomputer 45 includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, and a bus 44 fortransmitting data among the CPU 41, the RAM 42, the ROM 43. In the ROM43, various programs necessary for executing processes to control thegaming system 1 and data tables are stored. The RAM 42 is a memory totemporarily store various data calculated by the CPU 41. And in the ROM43, front and backside image data of the cards distributed to the playerand the dealer are also stored.

And to the CPU 41, an image processing circuit 47 is connected throughan I/O interface 46. And a sound circuit 48, a LED drive circuit 49 anda communication interface 50 are also connected to the CPU 41.Furthermore, a front display 21 is connected to the image processingcircuit 47, a speaker 22 is connected to the sound circuit 48, a LED 23is connected to the LED drive circuit 49, and each terminal 4 isconnected to the communication interface 5.

At the starting of the game, from the fifty-three trump cards twospecific cards are set based on the lottery result by the main controlunit 31. It is determined whether the game starting condition issatisfied or not after receiving the betting operation information bythe player such as the betted amount and the like from each terminal 4by the main control unit 31. When the game starts, based on the lotteryresult, seven cards from the fifty-three trump cards are distributed tothe dealer and the player respectively, (on the screen, cards aredistributed to the player and the dealer respectively). Game result (oneof the results including winning of a player, winning of a dealer anddraw between a player and a dealer) is determined according to the handsof the cards distributed. And the game result is transmitted to eachterminal 4. Based on the hands of the cards distributed, the terminal 4is specified to which one of the specific cards (here, “Club A”) isdistributed as the player's card, and the specified result istransmitted to each terminal 4. Thereafter, the credits stored may beincreased or decreased according to the game result received from themain control unit 31 by each terminal 4. Here, when the player bets tothe game executed in other terminals, the game results in otherterminals may infect the increase or decrease of the credits.

The main control unit 31 also outputs signals of images displayed on thefront display 21, and executes drive control of speakers 22 and LEDs 23.

Next, a construction of a control system in a terminal 4 is describedwith reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematicallyshowing a control system of a terminal 4 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal 4 according to the embodiment includesa microcomputer 55 as a core. And the microcomputer 55 includes a CPU51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, and a bus 54 for transmitting data among the CPU51, the RAM 52, the ROM 53 and the bus 54. In the ROM 53, variousprograms and data tables are stored. The various programs are theprograms for executing the processes necessary to control the terminal4. The RAM 52 is a memory to temporarily store the credits currentlystored in a terminal 4, the betting subjects on which players made bet,and the betted amount (credits) which are betted on the bettingsubjects, and various data calculated by the CPU 51.

And to the CPU 51, a liquid crystal panel drive circuit 57, a touchpanel drive circuit 58, a hopper drive circuit 59, a payout completionsignal circuit 60 and a communication interface 61 are connected throughan I/O interface 56. Furthermore, the liquid crystal display 10 and theliquid crystal panel drive circuit 57, the touch panel 11 and the touchpanel drive circuit 58, the hopper 62 and the hopper drive circuit 59,the coin detection portion 63 and the payout completion signal circuit60, the main control unit 31 and the communication interface 61, areconnected, respectively.

The betted amount (credits) which is betted by a player is calculated,and the other terminal 4 to which the player makes a bet on is specifiedby the CPU 51 according to the output operation information from touchpanel 11, and is stored in the betted amount memory area 52A of the RAM52, and also is transmitted to the main control unit 31. Additionally,the credits stored are increased or decreased by the CPU 51 based on thegame result transmitted by the main control unit 31.

The CPU 51 may also output the signals of images displayed on the frontdisplay 21, and may control the coin payout from the coin payout opening15 based on the signals of the hopper 62 and the coin detection portion63.

Next, the betting screen 70 displayed on the liquid crystal display 10of a terminal 4, when Pai Gow Poker game is played on the gaming system1 according to the embodiment, is described with reference to FIG. 6 andFIG. 7.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are explanatory views of the betting screen 70displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 of the terminal 4. Here, inthe gaming system 1 according to the embodiment, the player makes bet ofpredetermined credits to the game executed in the terminal to which theplayer seats by touching the betting screen 70 and the touch panel 11.And operations for allocating cards into high hand and second hand mayalso be executed.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the betting screen 70 is constructed froma player card display area 71, a tip display area 73, a pooled amountdisplay area 74, and an information display area. The player carddisplay area 71 may display the front image 87 and the backside image 88of the cards distributed to a player. The tip display area 73 maydisplay the tip image 72 which is betted, and the pooled amount displayarea 74 may display the pooled amount which is pooled in the POT, theinformation display area is an area to display various operation buttonsand information of the player.

Here, the player card display area 71 is an area to display the frontimage 87 and the backside image 88 of the cards distributed to theplayer. The player's cards are firstly displayed with the backside image88 right after being distributed to the player, in which marks of thecards can not be recognized (see FIG. 6). And then the front image 87 isdisplayed as the marks can be recognized (see FIG. 7). The front image87 and the backside image 88 of the seven cards displayed in the playercard display area 71, are the images of the cards distributed to theplayer who seats at the terminal 4. And also the player's cards may beallocated freely into a high hand with 5 cards and a second hand with 2cards, within the range in accordance to a house rule.

Especially in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the 5 cards located at the left side ofthe betting image 70 are the cards sorted as the high hand, the 2 cardson the left side of the betting image 70 are the cards sorted as thesecond hand. The selection of high hand and second hand may be changedby a player through the touch panel 11 to change the allocation of theseven cards displayed in the player card display area 71.

In the embodiment, in the terminal where the player does not seat, theplayer's cards are also distributed, and the player's cards may beallocated freely into a high hand with 5 cards and a second hand with 2cards in accordance to a house rule.

Returning to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, on the betting screen 70, the tip image72 which are equal to the betted amount betted by the player may bedisplayed in the tip display area 73 (for example, in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7,tips of 10 credits are betted). A player may select the betted amount bypressing the after-mentioned betting button 75, and may decide thebetting amount by touching the tip display area 73, and the decidedbetting amount is transmitted to the main control unit 31.

The pooled amount display area 74 is an area to display the pooledamount which is pooled in the POT. Here, in the gaming system 1according to the embodiment, 5% of the betted amount betted by theplayer is pooled in the POT.

On the right lower portion of the tip display area 73, betting buttons75 are arranged (in the embodiment, there are three kinds of the bettingbuttons, which are “1 credit”, “10 credits”, “100 credits”). The playermay select the betted amount to bet in the game by touching the bettingbutton 75.

Above the betting button 75, a REPEAT betting button 76 and an UNDObetting button 77 are formed. The player may bet the same betted amountas betted in the preceding game by pressing the REPEAT betting button76. And the player may cancel the betting operation which is onceconducted by pressing the UNDO betting button 77.

On the left lower portion of the tip display area 73, a HELP button 84is arranged. The HELP button 84 is a button to be pressed when theplayer wants to display the operation methods of the gaming system 1 onthe liquid crystal display 10. On the right side of the HELP button 84,a message area 85 which shows the message supporting the game process isarranged.

On the lower portion of the betting screen 70, a betted amount displayarea 90, an acquisition amount display area 91, a possessed creditsdisplay area 92, a minimum betting amount limit display area 93 and amaximum betting amount limit display area 94 are arranged. The bettedamount display area 90 shows the betted amount betted by the player forthe current game, the acquisition amount display area 91 shows theacquisition amount which the player acquired as awards in the game untilnow, the possessed credits display area 92 shows the credits which theplayer possessed currently, the minimum betting amount limit displayarea 93 shows the minimum limit which the player may possibly bet, andthe maximum betting amount limit display area 94 shows the maximum limitwhich the player may possibly bet.

And a game result display area 95, which shows the result of the currentgame between the player and the dealer, is arranged on the left side ofthe player card display area 71. Here, in the Pai Gow Poker game, ifboth the high hand and the second hand of a player are higher than thoseof the dealer, the player wins the game. If either the high hand or thesecond hand of a player is higher than that of the dealer, the playerplays to a draw with the dealer. And when it ends in a draw, the word of“DRAW” is displayed on the game result display area 95. And when theplayer wins the game, the words of “YOU WON” are displayed on the gameresult display area 95. And if the player loses the game, the words of“YOU LOST” are displayed on the game result display area 95.

In the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment, the player may usethe betting screen 70 shown in FIG. 1 to bet for the game executed inthe other terminal 4. In the betting screen 70 shown in FIG. 1, thereexists no player's cards display are 71 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7), in thearea corresponding to the player's cards display are 71, each terminaldisplay area 301 is displayed to show the corresponding terminal. On thelower portion of each terminal display area 301, a tip display area 73corresponding to each terminal display area 301 is arranged. Regardingto the other parts, it is the same as the betting screen 70 shown inFIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

Therefore, as described above, the player may select the betted amountby three kinds of betting buttons 75, and may determine the bettedamount to the game executed in other terminals through touching of thetip display area 73. Here, on the betting screen 70, the tip image 72corresponding to the betted amount betted by the player is displayed inthe tip display area 73. In above FIG. 1, a tip of ten credits is bettedto the “C” terminal 4 by the player.

In the embodiment, there exist five terminals 4 which are “A”, “B”, “C”,“D” and “E”. The betting screen 70 displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 10 of the terminal “A” is shown on above FIG. 1. Here, to theother four terminals 4, the betting screen 70 displayed on the liquidcrystal display 10 are the same.

Furthermore, when the player bets to the game executed on the otherterminal 4, credits which equals to two times of the betted amount(credits) is newly provided to the player as an award. In this case, itmay be determined that even when the player plays a draw to the dealerin his/her own terminal, the award he/she wins in other terminal may bepaid out. Or it may be determined that only when the player the dealerin his/her own terminal, the award he/she wins in other terminal may bepaid out.

A predetermined amount of credits (for example, 100 credits) may beadded and paid out to the player as well as providing a new awardequaling to two times of the betted amount, as described in theembodiment. Also receiving the winning lottery of JACKPOT may also beconsidered as an award, and the pooled amount pooled in the POT untilnow may be provided to the player.

Next, a main screen 101 which is displayed on the front display 21, whenthe Pai Gow Poker game is played on the gaming system 1 according to theembodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the main screen 101 which isdisplayed on the front display 21. Here, in order to raise the realisticsensation of the game in the gaming system 1 according to theembodiment, a dealer's image 102, in which animations such as carddistribution along with the game are executed, is displayed on the mainscreen 101.

Almost on the center portion of the main screen 101, a card image 103 isdisplayed to show the cards distributed to the dealer. Here, in thegaming system 1 according to the embodiment, seven cards are alsodistributed to the dealer as dealer's cards. And the dealer's cards arealso divided into high hand and second hand in accordance with the houserule. And both the high hand and second hand are displayed on the mainscreen 101 (for example, in FIG. 8, 5 cards of high hand are displayedon an upper stage, and 2 cards of second hand are displayed on a lowerstage).

Next, in the gaming system 1 with above construction, a game processingprogram executed by the CPU 41 of the main control unit 31, and a gameprocessing program at the terminal 4 executed by the CPU 51 of theterminal 4 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG.11. The programs flowcharted in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, are storedin the RAM 42 or the ROM 43 of the main control unit 31, or in the RAM52 or the ROM 53 of the terminal 4, and are executed by the CPU 41 orthe CPU 51.

First, the game processing program executed by the main control unit 31will be explained with reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. In step(abbreviated as “S” hereinafter) 1, the dealer's cards lottery processis executed to hold a lottery on the dealer's cards as the dealer's handby CPU 41. Concretely, if a card deck used in a game contains N cards(in a Pai Gow Poker game, N=53), either number of 1˜N is associated toeach card constructing the card deck. And in above S2, seven numbers aresorted out from the numbers of 1˜N, the seven cards associated with thetwo sorted numbers become the dealer's cards (in other words, thesecards are distributed to the dealer).

Hereinafter, in S2, a lottery process for player's cards is executed bythe CPU 41 to sort the player's cards. Concretely, from the fifty-threecards constructing each card deck, after seven cards are sorted out asthe dealer's cards in S2, forty-six cards may be remained. To theseremained forty-six cards, either number of 1˜46 (distribution order) isassociated with each card. And then seven numbers are sorted out fromthe numbers of 1˜46 for each terminal. And the seven cards associatedwith the seven sorted numbers become the player's cards of each terminal4. Furthermore, from the card deck which is remained after the dealer'scards and the player's cards are removed, as same as above, sevennumbers are sorted, and the seven cards associated with the seven sortednumbers become the player's cards on another terminal 4. And thislottery is executed until the player's cards are allocated to all theterminals 4.

Thereafter, in S3, the start instruction of betting period, in which thereception of the betting operation is executed by players, istransmitted to each terminal 4 by the CPU 41.

Next, in S4, the betting information is received from each terminal 4 bythe CPU 41. Here, the betting information includes information regardingto the betted amount (credits) which is betted by players to their owngames, the betted amount which the player bets to the other terminal 4the information which is used to specify the terminal 4. And thereceived betting information from each terminal 4 is stored in the RAM42 temporarily.

Thereafter, in S5, it is determined whether the betting condition issatisfied or not. Here, when the betting condition is not satisfied (S5:NO), the gaming process program starts over from the beginning. On theother hand, when the betting condition is satisfied (S5: YES), the gameproceeds to S6. Here, the betting condition is a condition that thereexists at least one terminal 4 to which the player makes the bets.

In S6, information regarding to the player's seven cards distributed toplayers (for example, the information regarding to the marks such as“Heart 7” or “Spade A”), is transmitted to each terminal 4 by the CPU41, based on the lottery result of the lottery process for distributingplayer's cards in preceding S3. And in S7, the dealer's image, in whichthe dealer is distributing seven cards to each of players and thedealer, is displayed on the front display 21 as the main screen 101 (seeFIG. 8). Meanwhile, regarding to the dealer's seven cards which aredistributed to the dealer, the backside image is displayed when thecards are distributed. And the kinds of the marks are non-displayed atthat time.

In S8, information regarding to the allocation of the cards into highhand and second hand is received by CPU 41 from each terminal 4. In thegaming system 1 according to the embodiment, 5 cards of high hand and 2cards of second hand may be assigned freely by players in accordancewith the house rule. Also, to the terminal 4 to which the player makesno bet, seven player's cards are distributed and are assignedautomatically into 5 cards of high hand and 2 cards of second hand inaccordance with the house rule.

And then, in S9, dealer's seven cards sorted in preceding S2, may beallocated to high hand and second hand by the CPU 41 in accordance withthe house rule. Furthermore, the image of the dealer's cards displayedon the main screen changes from the backside image to the front image,and the dealer's cards which are allocated into high hand and secondhand are displayed (see FIG. 8).

In S10, the player's cards are compared with the dealer's cards by theCPU 41 for high hand and second hand respectively. Concretely, based onthe hand of the cards, it is determined that if both the high hand andthe second hand of the dealer are higher than those of a player, thedealer wins the game. It is also determined that if both the high handand the second hand of a player are higher than those of the dealer, theplayer wins the game. In other case besides the above patterns, theplayer plays to a draw with the dealer. The kinds of the hands in a PaiGow Poker game are in the public domain, it may be omitted here.

And in S10, the terminal in which the player wins the game is specified.

Furthermore, in S11, the game determination result and the terminalspecified result determined in above S10 are transmitted to eachterminal 4. And in S12, the notification image in which the gamedetermination result in each terminal 4 is notified is displayed to themain screen 101 of the front display 21 by the CPU 41.

Next, the game processing program executed by a terminal 4 will beexplained with reference to the FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. In S101,the start instruction of the betting period is received by the CPU 51from the main control unit 31.

In S102, the betting screen 70 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on theliquid crystal display 10, and the betted amount (credits) which isbetted to the game executed in the other terminals based on theoperation information from the touch panel 11 is specified, by the CPU51.

Next, in S103, it is determined by the CPU 51 whether the first bettingperiod is terminated or not. Concretely, it is determined whether thepredetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) has passed from thereception of the betting operation in the preceding S102.

If it is determined that the first betting period has not passed (S103:NO), the reception of the betting operation may be continued by the CPU51. On the contrary, if it is determined that the first betting periodhas passed (S103: YES), procedure shifts to S104.

In S104, the betting screen 70 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) is displayed onthe liquid crystal display 10, and the betted amount (credits) which isbetted to the game executed in the other terminals based on theoperation information from the touch panel 11 is specified, by the CPU51.

Next, in S105, it is determined by the CPU 51 whether the second bettingperiod is terminated or not. Concretely, it is determined whether thepredetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) has passed from thereception of the betting operation in the preceding S104.

If it is determined that the second betting period has not passed (S105:NO), the reception of the betting operation may be continued by the CPU51. On the contrary, if it is determined that the second betting periodhas passed (S105: YES), procedure shifts to S106.

In S106, the betting information is transmitted by the CPU 51 to themain control unit 31. the betting information includes informationregarding to the betted amount (credits) which is betted by player tohis/her own game, the betted amount which the player bets to the otherterminal 4 and the information which is used to specify the terminal 4.

In S107, the card information regarding to the player's seven cardsdistributed to the terminal 4, is received by the CPU 51 from the maincontrol unit 31 (information regarding to the marks and the like). InS108, based on the card information received in S109, the player's sevencards are displayed on the betting screen 70 by the CPU 51. And in S108,the player's cards may be firstly displayed via the backside image 88,in which the marks of the cards can not be distinguished (see FIG. 6).And after the predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) has passed,the player's cards may be then displayed via the front image 87, inwhich the marks of the cards can be distinguished (see FIG. 7).

Thereafter, in S109, regarding to the player's cards displayed on thebetting screen 70, reception of the changeover operation on allocationof the high hand and second hand by players, may be started by the CPU51. In S110, it is determined whether the changeover operation onallocation is executed or not. If it is determined that the changeoveroperation is executed (S110: YES), the game proceeds to S111, based onthe changeover operation, the kinds of cards may be changed byreallocating the cards into high hand and second hand, and thearrangement of the player's cards displayed on the betting screen 70 maybe switched over, by the CPU 51.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the changeover operation onallocation of high hand and second hand is not executed (S110: NO),procedure shifts to S112.

In S112, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, 15seconds) has passed since the operation reception process starts in thepreceding S109. If it is determined that the predetermined time has notpassed (S112: NO), procedure shifts to S110. If it is determined thatthe predetermined time has passed (S112: YES), procedure proceeds toS113.

In S113, it is determined whether the betting operation is executed tohis own game or the other games in the terminal 4. Here, when it isdetermined that the betting operation is executed (S113: YES), procedureshifts to S115. When it is determined that the betting operation is notexecuted (S113: NO), procedure proceeds to S114. In S114, automatic carddistribution process is executed. Here, the player's cards are changedto the kinds of cards allocated to the high hand and the second hand inaccordance with the house rule, and the arrangement of the player'scards displayed on the betting screen 70 is changed, and then procedureproceeds to S115.

In S115, the distribution information of the high hand and the secondhand regarding the current player's cards is transmitted to the maincontrol unit 31 by the CPU 51.

Next, in S116, the game result and the terminal specified result whichis transmitted from the main control unit 31, is received by the CPU 51.And in S117, the game result of the player who seats at the terminal 4,is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 by the CPU 51, based onthe game result transmitted in preceding S116. Concretely, on the gameresult display area 95 of the betting screen 70 (see FIG. 7), the word“DRAW” is displayed when the player plays to a draw with the dealer. Thewords “YOU WON” are displayed when the player wins the game. The words“YOU LOST” are displayed when the player loses the game.

And then in S118, based on the game determination result transmitted inthe proceeding S116, the first payout is executed by CPU 51. Concretely,when a player wins the game against dealer, the credits with a doubleamount of the betted amount are paid out to the player. When the playerplays to a draw with the dealer, the betted amount may be paid outdirectly.

In S119, based on the terminal specified result transmitted in theproceeding S116, the second payout is executed by CPU 51. Concretely,when a player wins the game against dealer in the other terminal towhich the player makes a bet, the credits with a double amount of thebetted amount are paid out to the player. When the player plays to adraw with the dealer, the betted amount may be paid out directly.

Here, in the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment, in above S118,under a condition that the high hand of a player's cards includes theRoyal Flush, the pooled amount pooled in the POT until now is providedas an award. After the pooled amount is paid out, the pooled amount isupdated to an initial value (for example, 100).

As explained above, in the gaming system 1 and the playing method of thecard game executed in the gaming system 1 according to the embodiment,the betted amount to the game executed in the terminal 4 where theplayer seats may be selected by the player through the betting button75, and may be set by touching the tip display area 73, on the bettingscreen 70 displayed in the liquid crystal display 10 of the terminal 4as shown in FIG. 6 (S104). Also, the betted amount to the game executedin the other terminal 4 where the player does not seat, may be selectedby the player through the betting button 75, and may be set by touchingthe tip display area 73, on the betting screen 70 displayed in theliquid crystal display 10 of each terminal 4 as shown in FIG. 1 (S102).

The Pai Gow Poker game is proceeded after the above settings areexecuted (S5: YES), and the seven dealer's cards displayed in the frontdisplay 21 are automatically allocated to high hand and second hand inaccordance with the house rule (S9). In the terminal 4 to which theplayer makes his/her betting, based on the player's changeoveroperation, the seven player's cards are allocated to high hand (5 cards)and second hand (2 cards) in accordance with the house rule (S111). Inthe terminal 4 to which the player makes no betting, the seven player'scards are automatically allocated to high hand (5 cards) and second hand(2 cards) in accordance with the house rule (S114).

When the player wins the game executed in the terminal 4 where theplayer seats, the credits of two times of the betted amount is providedto the player (S118). When the player wins the game executed in theother terminal 4 to which the player does not seat, the credits of twotimes of the betted amount betted by the player to that terminal 4 isprovided to the player (S119).

Therefore, the player may bet for the game executed in the otherterminal 4 where the player does not seat (S102), and the new payout maybe provided to the player based on the game result in the other terminal4 and the betted amount (S119), a Pai Gow Poker game which is brand newand interesting may be proceeded. Since the player may bet the gameexecuted in the other terminal 4 where the player does not seat, thechance to increase/decrease the payout amount is increased efficiently.Especially, in the Pai Gow Poker game in which the game of a pluralityof terminals is determined in sequence, wherein most of the games aredraw games. In such game, it takes long time until the game result ofone hand is determined, therefore, increasing a chance toincrease/decrease the payout amount efficiently is very productive tosuch game.

Furthermore, in the betting screen 70 which is used to set the bettedamount to the game executed in the other terminal 4, for example, asshown in FIG. 1, it is possible for the player who seats at the terminal4 of “A” to set the betted amount respectively to the game executed inthe other four terminals 4, which are the terminal 4 of “B”, “C”, “D”and “E”. Since there exists a plurality of the combinations of theterminal to which the player may makes his/her betting and the bettedamount, the patterns of setting the betted amount to the game executedin the other terminal 4 are abundant. Therefore, a Pai Gow Poker gamewhich is brand new and interesting may be proceeded, and the chance toincrease/decrease the payout amount is increased efficiently.

Here, the gaming system is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, matching up to the timing in which the second payout inS119 is provided, the effect which the second payout is provided may bedisplayed on the front display 21 or the liquid crystal display 10 ofeach terminal 4.

The betting condition in S5 is not limited to be set as the conditionthat the player makes a bet for his own terminal 4, it may also be setas that the player makes at least one bet for the other terminal 4. Inthis way, the Pai Gow Poker game is proceeded under a condition that allof the players who participate in the game make a bet for the otherterminal which is different from the terminal where each player seats.And the chance to increase/decrease the payout amount is increasedefficiently.

The playing method of the card game according to this embodiment, mayalso be applied to Pai Gow Poker game (so-called table game), whereinthe game is played between the dealer 202 and players (not shown in thefigure) on the gaming table 201, as shown in FIG. 12.

In the table game shown in FIG. 12, the dealer 202 may prepare the acard deck, and may distribute the cards to each player and the dealerrespectively on the game table 201. And the player may bet for the gameexecuted in the terminal at which the player seats by putting the tipson the first tip storage place 203 on the gaming table 201. Furthermore,the player may bet for the game executed in the other terminal at whichthe player does not seat by putting the tips on the second tip storageplace 204 on the gaming table 201.

Here, except for a fact that the dealer distributes the cards directlyand the dealer and players allocate the cards directly instead of byimage, the concrete gaming method is the same as the gaming method bythe preceding gaming system 1.

The gaming system 1 and the card game playing method according to thisembodiment may also be applied to the other gaming system and the cardgame playing method in which games other than the Pai Gow Poker, such asthe Black Jack game and the other Poker games are executed.

Also to the Pai Gow Poker game, the gaming system 1 and the card gameplaying method according to this invention may also be applied to thehigh hand and the second hand of the player's cards separately. Forexample, the high hand of the player's cards may be used in the gameexecuted in the terminal at which the player seats, and the second ofthe player's cards may be used in the game executed in the otherterminal at which the player does not seat. And the reverse pattern isalso conceivable.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

1. A gaming system comprising: a display device for displaying player'scards distributed to a player; an input device accepting an input fromthe player; a plurality of terminals each of which includes the displaydevice and the input device; a common display device for displayingdealer's cards distributed to a dealer; and a processor programmed to:(a) set a bet number for a card game executed in a first terminal amongthe terminals as a first bet amount based on an input from the inputdevice of the first terminal; (b) specify a second terminal among theterminals based on the input from the input device of the first terminaland set a bet amount for the card game executed in the second terminalas a second bet amount; (c) prepare the dealer's cards displayed on thecommon display device according to a predetermined game rule by startingthe card game after the first bet amount or the second bet amount isset; (d) prepare the player's cards displayed on the display device ofthe terminal where the player exists according to the predetermined gamerule, based on the input from the input device of the terminal when thecard game is progressed; (e) prepare the player's cards displayed on thedisplay device of the terminal where the player does not exist accordingto the predetermined game rule when the card game is progressed; (f)provide a first award to the player of the first terminal based on agame result in the first terminal and the first bet amount; and (g)provide a second award to the player of the first terminal based on agame result in the second terminal and the second bet amount.
 2. Thegaming system according to claim 1, wherein the processor starts toprogress the card game under a condition that the second bet amount isset to all of the terminals where the players exist.
 3. The gamingsystem according to claim 1, wherein the processor newly specifies athird terminal based on a new input from the input device of the firstterminal and newly sets a bet amount for the card game executed in thethird terminal as a third bet amount, and wherein the processor providesa third award based on a game result in the third terminal and the thirdbet amount when the bet amount for the card game executed in the thirdterminal is newly set as the third bet amount.
 4. A gaming methodcomprising steps of: (a) setting a bet amount for a card game of a firstplayer as a first bet amount; (b) setting a bet amount for a card gamewith a second player as a second bet amount; (c) progressing the cardgame after the first bet amount or the second bet amount is set; (d)providing a first award to the first player based on a game result andthe first bet amount; and (e) providing a second award to the firstplayer based on a game result in the card game with the second playerand the second bet amount.
 5. The gaming method according to claim 4,wherein the card game is started under a condition that all playersparticipate in the card game set the second bet amounts.
 6. The gamingmethod according to claim 4, wherein a bet amount for a card game with athird player is newly set as a third bet amount, and wherein a thirdaward is provided to the first player based on a game result in the cardgame with the third player and the third bet amount when the bet amountfor the card game with the third player is newly set as the third betamount.